Almost all the windows have been erected now, so the breeze is less biting as I reach the top floor.
“Took your time, princeling!”
Of course, the fiery redhead had made it before me. She is her father’s daughter, after all.
“Mia,” I greet her with a roll of my eyes. “You do remember that I have the power to cut out your tongue if you call me that again.”
“Someone has to keep you humble.” She grins back, wrapping herself up in her long jacket beneath her own high vis. “Quite the setup you have here.”
I gesture around to the large, open plan of the fourth floor. “What do you think?”
“As a club or a casino?” she replies, eyes squinting slightly.
I sigh under my breath. “You know, at this point, you may as well come to Guild meetings instead of getting all your information secondhand.”
“And deal with you every week? I’d rather throw myself out that window.”
“Mia.”
“Teo.”
“Tell me honestly.”
She purses her lips at me. “About the building or joining the Guild?”
“Let’s start with the building,” I back off, knowing this game won’t end well if I push too hard. “You’ve been the only consistent manager at the Candelabrafor years.”
“Bartender,” she corrects.
I raise an unamused eyebrow.
“Who also dabbled in management from time to time,” she concedes. “Okay, I get it. I’m still not qualified to give you advice on your next big empire if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Okay, fine. Are you qualified enough to at least hear out my plans for this place, then?”
She rolls her eyes and gestures for me to continue.
“I want the main hall to be on this floor, right at the top, so that our highest paying customers can appreciate the views and location?—”
Mia lets out a snort.
“I’m sorry. Do you have an opinion to share with the class?”
“It’s a terrible idea.”
“Why?” I pretend to be offended.
“You want to hide away your high rollers up here? The one thing those old codgers love more than spending their grandaddy's money is letting peopleseethem as they spend their grandaddy’s money.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“It’s a casino, Teo! Windows are your enemy. You don't want people looking out at the city and thinking damn, it’s dark already, I should probably go home. You want to create a sense of timelessness, comfort, safety so that they never actually want to leave.”
“Sure.”
“You want to use this floor for something? Turn it into a concert venue. Force people up three flights of stairs to get here and ply them with alcohol. Then, they’ll have to trickle back down while resisting all the pretty lights leading them straight into temptation.”
“Of course.”
